Dianthus plant named ‘Amanda’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘AMANDA’ that is characterized by pronounced compact habit, grey-green foliage, and semi-double flowers that are light plum colored with a darker plum center. In combination these traits set ‘AMANDA’ apart from all other varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: Dianthus

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: ‘AMANDA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthusthat is grown for use as a flowering plant for pots and containers andas a hardy perennial for the garden and landscape. The new cultivar isknown botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘AMANDA’.

‘AMANDA’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a long termbreeding program conducted in a greenhouse environment in Houndspool,Dawlish, Devon, United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breedingprogram is to produce new cultivars of Dianthus that exhibit uniquegrowth habit and colors. The inventor selected ‘AMANDA’ in 2002 for thecolor combination of its flowers. ‘AMANDA’ exhibits a compact habit,grey-green fine foliage, and semi-double flowers that are plum coloredwith a darker center.

‘AMANDA’ resulted from the controlled pollination between Dianthus codename ‘Whet30’ as female parent, and Dianthus code name ‘Whet26’ as maleparent. Both parents have been raised by the inventor but have not beenreleased or patented.

‘AMANDA’ is distinguishable from its parents, both of which have singleflowers whereas the flowers of ‘AMANDA’ are semi-double.

The variety of Dianthus which is considered by the inventor to mostclosely resemble ‘AMANDA’ is the semi-double flowered Dianthus ‘DevonFlores’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,731) whose flowers are magenta-purple incolor.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor in 2002 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. Themethod of asexual propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since thattime the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stableand are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘AMANDA’. These traits incombination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercialvarieties known to the inventor. ‘AMANDA’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   2. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ blooms profusely.    -   3. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ exhibits semi-double flowers that are light        plum with a darker plum center and bloom from spring through        autumn.    -   4. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ exhibits grey-green foliage.    -   5. At maturity, the height of the foliage mound of Dianthus        ‘AMANDA’ is 18 cm; the width is 20 cm.    -   6. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ is perennial and is hardy to −15° C.    -   7. Dianthus ‘AMANDA’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant in        pots and containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus variety ‘AMANDA’ showing colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thedrawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors ofthe new variety ‘AMANDA’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flower.

All drawings were made of plants grown in 1.5-liter containers in a coldglasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. No chemicals were used to treat theplants. All drawings were made using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘AMANDA’.Data was collected in spring from 1.5-liter container plants in spring,and grown indoors in Devon, United Kingdom. The color determinations arein accordance with the 2002 edition of The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.The colors of stems, leaves, calyx, and epicalyx have been noted onplants which retain the characteristic waxy bloom of Dianthus. Nochemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typicalto other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus ‘AMANDA’.-   Species: ×hybrida.-   Common name: Garden pink.-   Commercial classification: Dianthus hybrid.-   Type: Perennial.-   Use: Used as a flowering plant for pots and containers and for    planting in the garden or landscape.-   Parentage: ‘AMANDA’ is a complex hybrid plant that resulted from the    controlled pollination between the following parent plants:    -   -   Female parent plant.—Dianthus ‘Whet30’.        -   Male parent plant.—Dianthus ‘Whet26’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—March through October.        -   Plant habit.—Compact mound with many branches and stems;            upright growth.        -   Plant height.—18 cm after 7 months.        -   Plant width.—20 cm after 7 months.        -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.        -   Root system.—Fine fibrous roots.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using vegetative            cuttings.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun, with moderate            water, and well-drained moderately fertile soil. Remove dead            flower heads to maintain flowering.        -   Diseases and pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and            disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease            are known to the inventor.        -   Time and temperature needed to produce a rooted cutting.—3            weeks are needed to produce roots on cuttings using a mist            propagation unit with bottom heat of 21° Centigrade, and a            minimum air temperature of 15° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—3 months starting in the early spring through            summer and 6 months starting in the fall is needed to            produce a finished container size plant from a well-rooted            cutting.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem dimensions.—20 cm in height and 2 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.        -   Stem color.—145C.        -   Branching.—Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower            leaves.        -   Internode length.—5 mm to 25 mm between nodes.        -   Node color.—145C.        -   Node dimensions.—3 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Shape.—Linear and straight.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Decurrent.        -   Venation.—Not Prominent.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling.        -   Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Glaucous.        -   Leaf dimensions.—30 mm to 50 mm in length and 4 mm to 6 mm            in width.        -   Leaf color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—NI89B.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Cymose.        -   Number of flowers per stem.—From 2 to 6.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—3 cm to 4 cm in length and 3 mm in            width.        -   Pedicel strength.—Erect.        -   Pedicel color.—N189B.        -   Flower development.—In sequence from the uppermost bud.        -   Flower type.—Salviform and symmetrical.        -   Flower shape.—Circular.        -   Flower profile.—Reflexed.        -   Flower dimensions (including calyx).—30 mm to 33 mm in            length and 15 mm in width.        -   Fragrance.—Medium.        -   Petal.—Number: 14–15 petals. Profile, upper part of corolla:            Convex. Profile, lower part of corolla: Concave.            Arrangement: Persistent, double, apopetalous, overlapping.            Margin: Crenate-dentate with less than 1 mm indentations.            Texture: Soft. Shape: Obdeltoid. Dimensions: 25 mm in length            and 20 mm in width. Color (adaxial surface): Ground color of            blade: 60C. Band across blade: 187B. Middle of strap: N155B.            Base of strap: 157A. Color (abaxial surface): Ground color            of blade: 60C. Band across blade: No band. Middle of strap:            N155B. Base of strap: 157A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cylindrical. Longitudinal profile: Flat.            Dimensions: 15 mm to 20 mm in length and 8 mm in diameter.            Sepals: Fused. Number of sepals: 5. Sepal surface: Glaucous.            Sepal color (both surfaces): 139C. Anthocyanin: Present.            Splitting: Not observed.        -   Epicalyx.—Bracts: 1 pair of 2. Shape of outer lobe:            Acuminate. Dimensions: 5 mm to 6 mm in length and 8 mm in            width. Color: 136A on the tip and 143A. Anthocyanin:            Present.        -   Bracteoles.—Number: 2. Dimensions: 6 mm to 8 mm in length            and 8 mm in width. Color: 136A on the tip and 143A.            Anthocyanin: Absent.        -   Lastingness of flower.—Each individual flower lasts an            average of 10 days at 20° C. on the plant.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 10. Dimensions: 15 mm–25 mm in length and            0.5 mm in diameter. Color: NN155D.        -   Anthers.—Number: 10. Dimensions: 2 mm in length and 0.5 mm            in diameter. Color: 84C. Attachment: Dorsifixed.        -   Pollen.—Occasionally present. Color: 136D.        -   Style.—Number: 2. Shoulder: Absent. Color: N155D.            Dimensions: 15 mm to 20 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.        -   Stigma.—Number: Single. Color: 70B. Dimensions: 2 mm to 3 mm            above petals at maturity.        -   Ovary.—Position: Superior. Dimensions: 6 mm to 8 mm in            length and 3 mm to 4 mm in diameter. Shape: Spindle. Color            (adaxial): 145B. Color (abaxial): 145C.        -   Seed.—Present. Dimensions: 3 mm in length and 2 mm in            diameter. Shape: Oval and flattened. Number 1–10. Color:            202A. Surface: Crinkled.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘AMANDA’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.